A Lion's Chance: A Crimson Hollow Novella Read Online Free

as suspected Tap was behind my murder. So he kept me locked in that room while he tried to figure out what to do with me.”
    “He never…it was never sexual?” Some relief set in at that but still, this man had hurt her and he couldn’t stand for that.
    “Never.”
    “I still want him dead. Both of them.” He balled his fists at his sides. “Where are they?”
    “Dead.” As the word left her mouth, she seemed to relax a little. “I was only there a couple of days, but during that time he beat me whenever he was around. The night the lion was there and I tried to escape was the worst. When the lion attacked, Tap must have heard my screams from the other room and he came in. Tap killed him right in front of me, splattering me with the man’s blood. As I watched the life drain from his eyes, I thought I was going to be next but Tap hauled the dead man out of the room without a word, leaving me alone.”
    “Who was this lion?”
    “I never knew his name. I had never even seen him before that night.”
    “And Tap?” Knowing they were dead did nothing to eliminate the anger coursing through him. He wanted to kill the bastards himself.
    “Jase was pissed but Garret killed him.”
    “How does Jase play into it?” He tried to hold back his anger until he knew. Surely, the tribe’s Chief couldn’t have known that Ginger was being held hostage. Jase wasn’t the man to turn a blind eye if someone needed his help.
    “He was there, I guess, spying on Sin to make sure she was safe, and he bumped into Garret. Somehow, Garret talked him into backing him up and he’d owe Jase for it. I don’t know what happened between the two of them that night. I was in rough shape and honestly, I didn’t care. I asked about it later but Garret wouldn’t talk about it. I only know Jase was livid because I remember him yelling. I couldn’t tell you what he said though.”
    “Sounds like Jase.” Liam had no one to kill. All of the ones that hurt his mate had already been taken care of but he wanted to do something. Setting aside his anger, he went to her, reached down, took her hand, and pulled her up until she stood in front of him. “Evil exists everywhere but I’m sorry you had to witness it. To have a lion instill the fear in you that has you shy away from me makes me want to kill him. I want you to know that I’m nothing like him—just as Jase is not like Tap. You can’t paint the whole species with the same brush because of them.”
    “I…” She glanced at up him, meeting his gaze for the first time. “Maybe I have done that but it’s hard to separate the memories and fear from the scent of a lion.”
    “There are other lions throughout the tribe and none of them mean you any harm. I’ve known most of them all of my life. I’m not going to hurt you and neither will they.” He wasn’t sure how he would prove that to her but he was determined to find a way. “After breakfast, let me show you around, introduce you to some of them.”
    “I don’t know.” She tried to step back from him but she hit the chair and he wrapped his hand around her bicep before she could fall back.
    “I know you’re afraid, but let me prove to you that I’m nothing like the last lion you had contact with.” He let go of her arm and stepped back. “Do you honestly think Garret would have left us alone if he thought I was anything like that asshole? Do you think I would be one of Jase’s guards if I were like that? Garret trusts me with his mate and with you, yet you don’t trust me enough to let me show you around and introduce you to some of the residents here.” Her attitude against lions had started out directed at someone else but now it was becoming personal. What did he have to do to prove to her that he was different? And more importantly, how was he supposed to do it if she couldn’t even stand to be alone with him?
    He let out a sigh. “Tell Garret thanks for the invitation, but another time.” He turned his back